Why We Gather On Christmas Day

Written by David W. Hegg | Senior Pastor

I can remember back in 1994 when, for the first time, a family asked the question “Will you be holding services on Christmas since it falls on a Sunday?” When I assured them we would be gathering for worship, their response was “O good! We’ll be there!”

Since then, in 2011, 2016, and as recent as a few days ago, that same question has been raised with increasing frequency. But now, my response of “Absolutely! We will be gathering to celebrate the faithfulness of God the Father in sending God the Son!” garners a shocked response. “Really? Don’t you know families have important traditions on Christmas morning?”

“And this year, on Sunday, December 25, we will prioritize gathering as a church family – the Family of God.”

Here at Grace Baptist Church, our reasons for joyfully gathering to worship our great God, sing his praises, share his love, and sit under the instruction of his word on Sunday, December 25, are pretty simple.

First, we want to live out the truth that Christmas is now and has always been about God’s gift to us of the Savior, Jesus Christ our Lord. That doesn’t mean family traditions aren’t important, but it does mean that exalting Christ in those traditions must always be our priority – as Kevin DeYoung points out in his excellent article, “Family is a gift, not a god.” And this year, on Sunday, December 25, we will prioritize gathering as a church family – the Family of God.

Second, in a time when our society is lurching away from the biblical worldview and our children are being bombarded with images and ideology proclaiming that the psychologized self has dethroned God, what families do on Christmas this year is extremely important. Because Christmas falls on Sunday – the Lord’s Day – we have an excellent opportunity to model before our children that our spiritual commitment to Christ and his church always comes first. In doing so, we present a “living parable” that will reinforce the vital truth that we are not our own, or on our own, but belong fully and joyfully to our wonderful Savior, Jesus.

“Some families may even find it exciting to wait until later in the day to enjoy their Christmas traditions.”

Lastly, given that our Christmas Sunday service will be an All Family Service at 10:00am, there will be ample time to rise early, have a family breakfast, and then gather together for a grand celebration on the Grace Baptist Campus. Some families may even find it exciting to wait until later in the day to enjoy their Christmas traditions. In any event, this year let’s make our Christmas both a tribute to God the Father’s faithfulness and a celebration of God the Son’s coming to earth. Only then will the joy found in our individual family traditions remind us of what Christmas is all about.